Sharanagati
Collected words from talks of Swami TirthaWhich verses to pick from the second block of “Bhagavad Gita”? You can pick a lot of very, very important verses from this second block of six chapters. Here we find the four main verses of the “Gita”- the chatur-shloki, the Tenth Chapter 8-11.
But here there are some tricky verses also. In the Seventh Chapter Krishna starts to describe His own glories. He says: “I am. I am this, I am that, I am the Sun, I am the Moon, I am the Himalaya, I am the Veda.” And He also says: “I am the ability in man.” This is very important! The ability what you have is a divine presence. What makes us human beings – this is the divine gift, it’s Krishna. “I am the human quality, I am the ability in man.” It’s great! Therefore our activities, and our mind, and our life should express this truth – that “Yes, I reflect the divine reality through my activities.”
But Krishna in this list also mentions that “I am the taste of water.”[1] Here the Sanskrit is very important. Because He says: raso ‘ham… apsu kaunteya. So first He says: “I am rasa, I am the taste… of water.” Previous days we discussed that “Gita” is spoken by Vasudeva-Krishna, like the general Supreme Lord, instructing His good friend and servant Arjuna – very official. But here in this verse, He forgets about Himself. He says: “I am rasa, I am the taste.” He forgets about His divine and supreme position and He says: “I am the taste, I am the higher taste that you are searching for.” But, you know, when a teacher commits, so to say, “a mistake” or lapse of the word, then he tries to correct, just to compensate for the mistake. And don’t forget, Arjuna is in a very difficult moment, because this is before a war – it is not the time for discussing rasa too much. Krishna has to instruct Arjuna: “Perform your duty!” Nevertheless Krishna forgets about His official position and He betrays His inner identity, that “I am rasa”. But then all of a sudden realizes: “Ah, wait a minute, this is not the time for this rasic conversation!” So then He adds: “I am the taste… of water, Arjuna, of water.” You see, if we can find these special moments, when Krishna just reveals Himself, and then He is back to the official role – I think this is very important.
And here also in this block He says: “I am satisfied if you give me a little water, a little fruit, a little leaf.”[2] And now you are inspired: “Ah, such an economic religion! I can satisfy God with a little water – I can afford that, it’s not much. A little water, a little fruit and He is satisfied – then I’m also satisfied! That’s a good bargain.” But please, check the next verse also. Because there Krishna adds: “All right, I’m satisfied with a little water, but please, give Me whatever else you have. Whatever you possess, whatever you wish, whatever you like – everything, just give it to Me.” You see, this is the hook. Beware with this Krishna. First He enchants you: “With some little fruits and little water I am satisfied” and then He says: “And everything else. All in.” So, He is like this, what can we do?
Question: Maharaj, I’ve heard that Radhika is somewhere hidden in the “Gita”. Is this true?
Tirtha Maharaj: Well, you can find Radhika in the “Gita” in the heart of your spiritual master, there you will find Her. This is where She is hiding. In the “Gita”, outside of the “Gita”, this scripture, that scripture – it’s only secondary. The main importance is the heart of a pure devotee.
But in one sense you are correct – even if Krishna teaches Arjuna before a battle, He thinks of Radha. She’s in His mind. So, from time to time He discloses or forgets about Himself.
[1] Bhagavad Gita 7.8
[2] Bhagavad Gita 9.26